The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and its marketing and licensing business unit NFL Players Inc. are pleased to announce the NFLPA Rookie Premiere Class of 2021. In its 27thyear, NFLPA Rookie Premiere presented by Panini America has represented a rite of passage for many of the game’s most marketable rookie stars to learn the business of football and jumpstart their endorsement careers.
Rookie Premiere is customarily an exclusive trading card content and marketing event for presenting partner Panini America, along with a slate of other NFLPA partners. Players are selected as part of the Rookie Premiere class primarily by Panini America based on position, college performance, draft status as well as projected overall demand and marketability. All these factors impact a rookie’s trading card value, even before they have played a down in a game. Fueled by NFL players, Panini enjoyed a second consecutive year of record growth in 2020. The Rookie Cards and autographs from this year’s class of players will be featured throughout Panini’s complete 2021 NFL trading card portfolio.
Traditionally held each summer in Los Angeles, this year the NFLPA hosted a private, virtual player-only program for the next generation of NFL stars who gained insights from NFLPA partners and industry experts, including Panini America, Sleep Number and P&G, plus heard from stars of the past and present, including Emmitt Smith, Ryan Clark, Dak Prescott and Tyler Lockett.
Each rookie is unique and among the most talented in their profession, no matter their position on the field or position in the draft. And that’s the beauty of the Rookie Premiere classes – for every high draft pick like Peyton Manning, Ezekiel Elliott or Cam Newton, there are dozens of hidden gems, like Terrell Davis, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Odell Beckham Jr., Prescott and Russell Wilson.
To celebrate this year’s class, the NFLPA and Panini America have released a class announcement video, produced by OneTeam Partners, that captures the dynamic nature of this year’s new faces.
Below is the full NFLPA Rookie Premiere Class of 2021:
QUARTERBACKS
Ian Book, QB, New Orleans Saints
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots
Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Davis Mills, QB, Houston Texans
Kellen Mond, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Kyle Trask, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets
WIDE RECEIVERS
Chatarius Atwell, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Dyami Brown, WR, Washington Football Team
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Jaelon Darden, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Simione Fehoko, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Desmond Fitzpatrick, WR, Tennessee Titans
Jacob Harris, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers
Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets
Rondale Moore, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Joshua Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Cornell Powell, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Amari Rodgers, WR, Green Bay Packers
Anthony Schwartz, WR, Cleveland Browns
DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Tylan Wallace, WR, Baltimore Ravens
RUNNING BACKS
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
Jaret Patterson, RB, Washington Football Team
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
Kene Nwangwu, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Michael Carter, RB, New York Jets
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trey Sermon, RB, San Francisco 49ers
TIGHT ENDS
Hunter Long, TE, Miami Dolphins
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Alex Leatherwood, OT, Las Vegas Raiders
Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions
Quinn Meinerz, C, Denver Broncos
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Christian Barmore, DT, New England Patriots
Kwity Paye, DE, Indianapolis Colts
Payton Turner, DE, New Orleans Saints
Phil Hoskins, DT, Carolina Panthers
Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami Dolphins
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Caleb Farley, CB, Tennessee Titans
Elijah Molden, CB, Tennessee Titans
Jaycee Horn, CB, Carolina Panthers
Marco Wilson, CB, Arizona Cardinals
Patrick Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos
LINEBACKERS
Chazz Surratt, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys